Crusaders ended a six year wait when they hit Ballymena United for six at Seaview on Saturday. The Shore Road rout was the first time since 2010 the North Belfast club has kicked off the league campaign with a win.

In their five previous curtain raisers, the Crues drew one and lost five, including a 2-1 defeat to Portadown on the opening day of last season.

Northern Ireland winger Stuart Dallas was in the starting line-up the last time Crusaders picked up three points on the opening weekend of the season. A 3-1 win over Donegal Celtic in August 2010 was secured thanks to a debut goal from Michael Halliday and a brace from Jordan Owens.

No fewer than seven of the 10 managers on duty at the weekend were starting their first full seasons with their respective clubs. Kieran Harding was in the dugout as new Carrick Rangers boss for the first time in Saturday's 4-0 defeat at Glenavon.

Gavin Dykes, who succeeded Whitey Anderson in June, also took control of Ballinamallard United against Linfield. Big Two bosses David Healy and Alan Kernaghan were appointed at Linfield and Glentoran last October and November.

Cliftonville's Gerard Lyttle was named Tommy Breslin's successor two months into last season, while David Jeffrey replaced Glenn Ferguson as Ballymena United manager in March. Rodney McAree held the managerial post briefly at Dungannon in early-2012, so this too is his first full campaign at the helm.

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Crusaders Jordan Owens nips in at the back post to score and make it 3-0

Jordan Owens celebrated his first hat-trick in almost two years against Ballymena United on Saturday. The last time the Crusaders' striker bagged a treble was against Portadown in January 2015.

That game also ended in a 6-0 win for Stephen Baxter's men at their North Belfast home. And just like Saturday, winger Paul Heatley also celebrated a brace against the Ports. Owens scored three braces - but no hat-tricks - en route to 20 goals in all competitions last season.

4. HISTORIC HAMMER HORROR FOR DAVID'S BATTERED BRAIDMEN

If you're a Ballymena United fan, look away now... Saturday's 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Crusaders made it SIX seasons on the bounce the Braid club has suffered a defeat by six or more goals in the Danske Bank Premiership.

The weekend rout was the SEVENTH time since November 2011 the Sky Blues have been on the end of a hammering. Three of six previous heavy defeats came at the hands of Glenavon (1-7, 3-6 and 0-7) while the other three were against Cliftonville (0-7, 0-8 and 3-7). Worryingly for David Jeffrey and his players, Ballymena's next league game is at home to Glenavon this Wednesday night.

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And finally... The official Ballinamallard United Twitter account took no prisoners during Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Linfield at Ferney Park.

After deciding that one Mallards goal chance had been “ruled offside by Stevie Wonder” the club account took a playful aim at the visitors' style of play. One tweet deadpanned: “Linfield opting to play a long ball game from the back – otherwise known as 'hoof'.

Or so the fans tell me.” A little later, the Ballinamallard Twitter added: “This ball has spent more time in the air than my cousin who works for @easyjet.” Hashtag tough crowd.